A Gift to Children

“Good morning, Melissa!” With her voice ringing as if it were the brightest of bells, Lisa McCleish has welcomed each student and family by name at our preschool door for 17 years as the Director of Early Childhood Programs.

2023-08-04T08:36:47-05:00August 4, 2023|Categories: Articles, Joe Walker|

A Trip Down the Hall

By Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care I expect you’ll use the bathroom today. But you might not give any thought to the toilet as one symbol of a functional and peaceful society. War correspondent, Jane Ferguson, in her new book, No Ordinary Assignment, writes: “A short stroll down a dirt path between Read More...

2023-07-22T15:01:37-05:00July 22, 2023|Categories: Articles, Joe Walker|

Where Is Your Church? 

By Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care If someone were to ask, “Where is your church,” how would you answer that question? Likely, your first response would be to give the location of the physical building, “It’s that beautiful gothic church on Ward Parkway.” During these summer months, you might also pause Read More...

2023-06-18T07:58:34-05:00June 18, 2023|Categories: Articles, Joe Walker, Uncategorized|

Enriching Differences

By Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care When I was in elementary school, then as now, everyone was both excited and somewhat anxious as the new academic year got underway. For me, the beginning of school coincided with the onset of my fall seasonal allergies. Colloquially we called it hay fever Read More...

2022-08-26T10:06:56-05:00August 26, 2022|Categories: Articles, Joe Walker|

A Time to Mourn  

It occurs to me that some of you reading this do not have a personal memory of September 11, 2001, and the events known as 9/11. You may not have been born yet or were too young to have memories of that fateful day. Suffice to say that the attacks on our soil were horrific and heartbreaking.

2020-10-22T12:46:12-05:00October 22, 2020|Categories: Articles, Congregational Care, Joe Walker|

Practicing

By Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care The Pope slapped a woman’s hand. Perhaps you remember the New Year’s Eve incident: As he was leaving a receiving line an overzealous pilgrim grabbed the Pontiff’s hand pulling him off-balance. Pope Francis reacted by slapping her hand and barking at her before his Read More...

2020-01-29T13:35:47-06:00January 29, 2020|Categories: Articles, Joe Walker|

Curious? Of course!

By Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care I re-learned an important lesson over the summer. As is almost always the case, I learned it more by happy accident than by design. The lesson, simply stated, is that we humans are naturally curious creatures. Recently I have had a lot of conversations here Read More...

2019-09-12T13:41:23-05:00September 12, 2019|Categories: Articles, Congregational Care, Joe Walker|

Lazy, Hazy Summer Days

Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care “Ah, things slow down over the summer months, right?” Well, maybe a little, but… Our newly elected Deacons and Youth Elders and Deacons are being welcomed into their particular Circles of Care community assignments. They are receiving orientation on how we as a church maintain Read More...

2019-07-03T12:06:28-05:00July 3, 2019|Categories: Articles, Joe Walker|

A Little Different

By Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care Summer is all about doing things a little differently, isn’t it? Get out of your comfort zone, leave your Zip Code in the rearview mirror. Explore exotic locales, eat food you can’t identify, get bit by different kinds of mosquitos, sleep in a tent or Read More...

2019-04-24T15:58:14-05:00April 24, 2019|Categories: Articles, Congregational Care, Joe Walker|

Holiday Conversations

Even in the gathering dusk the unadorned concrete slab on its native rock foundation was still warm from the summer sun. My grandmother, “Grams,” and I settled on the edge facing east; she with her feet on the roughhewn stone steps while I dangled my gangly legs over the side.

2018-11-15T11:03:35-06:00November 15, 2018|Categories: Articles, Joe Walker|
Go to Top